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Do you ever wake up and just feel like the world is out to get you? It seems you can make no one happy? Everyone is pulling you in hundreds of directions? The harder you work, the deeper you get behind? You feel left out, not included, and just lonely – even in a group of people? Do you think if you are the nicest person and offer your help and really go out of your way for others – they will do the same? Then you get stomped on again and again. Do you let your mind start racing, start thinking all of these negative thoughts and you just start feeling worse. Well, I started my day off like that this morning. I was frustrated, sad, lonely, mad, feeling sorry for myself….you know that Self PITy that you go in. (Notice I capitalized the letters – PIT…we fall deep in that PIT of self-pity). I don’t even have anything wrong going on in my life…
I realized immediately what I was doing and so I tried to just breathe! I was going to post on Facebook a quote or scripture and I started looking at lots of positive uplifting thoughts. I was reading them faster and faster and really did start feeling better. I read them out loud, I thought and meditated over them. I found some scripture that was uplifting and even heard some praise songs. My mood was getting better. I was slowing climbing up the walls…I fell a few times when an email frustrated me or I heard others talking and laughing and I felt left out; but I was going to stop letting my mind go to the bottom of the pit again. I have always heard of the power of positive thinking but I guess I never really realize what power it can have.
As I grow older, I reflect a lot more on ways I could improve myself…I always know that I could start by not being so hard on myself. I am caring, compassionate, dependable, want to do my best always, am friendly, am worthy…wait – I am worthy. Surely I didn’t’ say that – but you know – my God gives me worth. He cared enough to pay the ultimate price of dying for me. He did that for me…and for you. So when you start your old stinking thinking – look up to God or get down on your knees. Read scripture, listen to praise music, read positive thoughts, surround yourself with positive people. Do NOT let your mind have the power to get you down…into the snake pit…of self-pity. Gosh – I am so blessed with a fabulous family, a great job with people I respect and admire; I am part of so many wonderful community groups and a great church. I am blessed! You have the POWER to change your mind from thinking negative to thinking positive.
In the Bible – David expressed when he felt times of being in the PIT. He shares in Psalm 40 and so many other places in Psalms. Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (He’s talking about God for those of you who don’t catch on.)
I also think about Daniel – who was thrown not only in a pit – but a lion’s pit. He came out smiling – praising God. He relied on God to get him through it. God didn’t let him down – he showed out!
So next time you start sliding into the pit – stop it. You have the power to do it – rely on your God. Change your thinking – the power is yours!

Do you find yourself wanting things your friends have…happy involved family, perfect figure, tons of time and energy, exotic vacations they take or even material things like cars, houses, etc.? I will be honest – I do! I really didn’t realize it until this morning I was doing my Bible reading and I realized that I commit one of the Ten Commandments sins and often! Wait—-Wha…What? I sometimes have a pity party and think about how everyone’s life is better than mine. I wish I was thinner, healthier, richer, and kinder, more organized, had a bigger house, and had a swimming pool… I want it all! So often I forget all the wonderful things I have and how truly blessed that I am! Jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessings instead of our own. I usually think of jealousy in relationships but it’s for things as well. Covet means to yearn to possess or have (something) according to dictionary.com. This is one of those commandments that deals with thoughts and not actions. If I think it…I sin it…WHOA! That is powerful! PLEASE CHANGE MY THOUGHTS GOD! Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” I sometimes wonder why I have so many health issues or why losing weight is such a battle or why my house is not as big as others…I become resentful and that is just the worse thing ever! Those who are free of resentful thoughts…surely find peace. Why do I think I should have something different or better? Why don’t I feel blessed? Why don’t I just leave it up to God because he has done everything strategically so that my life will be perfect for me.

I realized I need to confess to God and ask him to make me more thankful and not jealous! In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 the Bible states, “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” Psalm 107:42-43 Good people see this and are glad; bad people are speechless, stopped in their tracks. If you are really wise, you’ll think this over— it’s time you appreciated God’s deep love.” I am the luckiest girl around – I have Jesus as my Lord and Savior and I need to remember that God always provides.
Sometimes when your life is going differently than you had hoped, just remember that God has something better planned for you! Last Friday I went to Starbucks and I usually pay for the person behind me, well I was in a grumpy anxious mood so I decided I wasn’t going to do that. Funny thing – there was a commercial on the Christian radio station that I was listening to and it was talking about the “Drive-Thru Difference – pay for the person behind you” (My first sign from GOD). So then I got to the window and the young guy smiled BIG and said, “The person in front of you paid for your order.” WOW – OK God I will pay for the person behind me. Once I did, I just felt this calm and peace about me. God wanted to me to brighten that person’s day. I am not sure what they had going on in their life but I prayed for them and knew they would be happy to have a treat from Starbucks from someone who cared. Funny thing – I wasn’t stressed anymore. My anxiety had lifted and I had a great day! I love God’s sense of humor! Once again, God has a plan…

How can you not reflect on Thanksgiving of all the things you are thankful for? I have so much to be thankful for and I am so blessed. Thank God, thank family, friends, coworkers, those who serve whether it is a waitress to a soldier…give thanks.
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln

So often, we find the negative things in life instead of the positive. I know it’s hard sometimes but think positive. I have learned so many times that when I think negative thoughts, negative things happen. When I am positive, surprisingly positive fabulous things happen. So I encourage you–for your mental health. Be positive, say I can! Be thankful….look for the unexpected things that may not be so evident at first.

Today You Can
by Catherine Pulsifer

Today you can choose to count your blessings
or you can count your troubles.
Today you can live each moment
or you can put in time.
Today you can take action towards your goals
or you can procrastinate.
Today you can plan for the future
or you can regret the past.

Today you can learn one new thing
or you can stay the same.
Today you can seek possibilities
or you can overwhelm yourself with the impossible.

Today you can continue to move forward
or you can quit.
Today you can take steps towards resolving your challenges
or you can procrastinate.

You see today the choices are up to you
in deciding what you do today.

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Leigh Christian

Connections Coach, a Christian, Mom, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Friend, Volunteer, Hard Worker, Life Changer, Leader, Helping Plans to Prosper - and so much more!
I am 50+ years old (yes for real), live in Alabama and am a re-energized Christian. I am changing my life one thing at a time. I am making Physical, Mental and Spiritual Changes. I hope to encourage you to change things that you want to change. I share about my life and things that I think are important. I didn't start out to have a Christian blog, but that is clearly where God led me! Pray for me as I share my story. I am known for my connections...to God, others and self! I have founded a Christian Ministry with a good friend called Empire ChristFit. We will start a blog in that name as well.